7 am, I wake up to feet standing right at the entrance of my tent. Omg. ack!
the campsite must have filled up completely during the night and a large group of early morning day hikers wander through my spot looking for a picnic table.

so much for hiding behind the log! I think the leader of the group didn’t see my setup behind it and made a bee-line through the rocks for my camp site’s table, only to realize, oops there’s a tent here. It’s actually pretty funny, once he walked through, the entire group followed behind him like a camel train. each one suddenly seeing my tent, one after the other, oops! oops! oops! haha

Very awkward getting ready and packing up. Took me awhile just to get out of the tent.
Stealth camp why you fail me so! oh well, I probably deserve it for being shy.

I share the table as I pack. A very nice man in a Hawaiian T gives me the most beautiful orange.

“Are you here with friends?”

“yes” (no, I’m not)

“are they joining you soon?”

“oh they’re up the trail” (no they’re not)

I don’t know what I was thinking. I should have just been honest. It’s pretty obvious I’m hiking alone and he was just being nice. I think, in the moment, I just really didn’t want to have that conversation of, omg you’re alone? ((you’re a lady on you’re own, in the woods, you must want to die or something! how brave! how crazy! lets beat this dead horse until I’ve made my point))

I thank him again for the beautiful orange and hike up the trail as fast as I can. The sun climbs higher in the sky outlining the trees in gold. I feel like I could drink the fresh air. Gallons of it.
Higher and higher the trail zigzags. I can see glimpses of the surrounding hills through branches. Wow. mist crawls in, filling the low spots like water in a tub. I slow down to keep from tripping, I have a hard time watching my feet!

A few trail runners wiz by and before I know it I’m at a parking lot on top of Mount Wilson. I’d seen a few pictures online of the observatory when I was planning my trip, but gosh, nothing beats seeing the place in person! The massive white domes perch silently in the trees, yet the place buzzes with an exciting energy of scientific exploration. Space! The final frontier! I would love to come back for a tour!

I pick a spot to take a break and find the beautiful orange in my pack. I remember the nice man and start to feel bad for not telling the truth. I don’t really deserve this beautiful orange.
I think about it more . . . when you’re hiking on a trail, you never really are alone, like, in the sense that, complete strangers will offer their friendship and kindness. Being on a trail is like… being in a big family or part of a community, in a way. We’re all watching out for each other. You walk by someone and they say hello. (that doesn’t happen very often in the streets of LA)

and that camp! it filled up so quickly! full of friends and families and like minded people enjoying their weekend in nature.

That’s a pretty cool thing.

So I wasn’t really truly alone. (but that still doesn’t excuse my answer at the time). He was just wanting to look out for another fellow human being. We all should be careful. That’s nothing to dismiss lightly.

I feel thankful for the orange and secretly apologize to the guy who shared it with me. I hope to be better and more patient discussing the topic of solo hiking with people from now on.

That orange was one of the best I’ve ever had.

I hike back down into the mist towards Sturtevant Camp. A bobcat wattles over a bolder near the trail! (is it just me, or do 4 legged animals look really funny when you just watch their hind legs…).
I power on, feeling good carrying my full pack! I can hear people at Sturtevant Falls before I can see them. A large group of high school students splash around in the water yelling taunts at each other. (I’m sure Sir/Lady Bobcat loves this).

I reach the parking lot at Adams Pack Station by 1pm, total mileage for today: 11.43!
training hike mission: success